VI PREFACE 



But before the close of the year which marked the conclusion of the 

 writer's inquiries relating to ancient man in North America (1907), 

 there appeared in Argentina an important resume of the evidence 

 relating to the man of the Pampean formations in that country, by 

 Lehmann-Nitsche and a number of his associates, and this was soon 

 followed by the reports on the apparenth' epoch-making discoveries 

 of the Tetraprothomo (1907), Diprotliomo (1909), smd Homo pampxus 

 (1909), by F. Ameghino, all of which stimulated to a high point the 

 writer's interest in the question of early man in the southern conti- 

 nent. Then, with the earnest aid of Prof. W. H. Holmes, who has 

 alwa3's had much at heart the impartial solution of the problem of 

 man's antiquity in America, and through the good offices of the 

 present Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, it became possible 

 for the writer to visit Ai^gentina. In recognition of the importance 

 of expert geologic evidence in studies of this kind, it was arranged that 

 the writer should be accompanied by a competent geologist, ac- 

 quainted with formations in other parts of the world allied to those of 

 the pampas. The selection for this service fell on Air. Bailey Willis, 

 of the United States Geological Surve}', who had done important work 

 on the loess and related formations in North America and in China. 



The chief objects of the expedition were the exammation of the skele- 

 tal remains relating to early man that are preserved in Brazil and in 

 Argentina; the study of at least the principal localities and of the 

 deposits from which the finds were reported to proceed; and the dis- 

 covery, if possible, and the collection of osseous, archeologic, or other 

 specimens bearing on man's antiquit3^ 



It was hoped that the work on the gi-ound, carried to such extent as 

 the circumstances might aUow, would make it possible to form more 

 definite conclusions concerning the individual finds than the litera- 

 ture on these warranted, and that possibly by means of new discover- 

 ies additional light might be shed on the whole subject of early man in 

 South America, particular!}^ in Argentina. 



The journey was undertaken, it should be explicitly stated, with no 

 prejudice or preconceived opinions, though in view of the defective 

 reports skepticism concerning certain details or finds was unavoidable. 



Argentina was reached earl}" in May, 1910, and the stay of the 

 writer in the country lasted two months and that of Mr. WilHs some- 

 what longer; almost all of this time was given to the researches here 

 recorded. The Argentine men of science, Srs. Ameghino, Ambrosetti, 

 Lehmann-Nitsche, Moreno, Outes, Roth, and others, received Mr. WilUs 

 and the writer very cordially and f acihtated their work with a liberality 

 that has left a lasting impression and has placed them under many 

 obligations. Senor Moreno and Professor Ameghino, mth his brother 

 Carlos, were particularly helpful; without their aid a large portion of 

 the work could not have been accomplished. The specimens which it 



